I roll my eyes.
"Of course she did." I take a sip of water. "What did she say?"
"That she's pleased. That a male heir secures the succession. That—" He stops, shaking his head slightly.
"What?"
"That she's proud of me." He sounds irate. “As though I’ve done something amazing.” He sips his water, and I can tell her response was not what he wanted.
"Are you pleased?" I ask. "That it's a boy?"
"I'm pleased that you're both healthy. The rest—" He shrugs. "A son. A daughter. It doesn't matter to me, Sera. But yes, I'm happy. In this family, having a son means you're—" He stops.
"Safe?" I finish. "Untouchable?"
"Yes."
"Because I’m mother to your heir?”
“Yes.”
It’s all so antiquated.
“My mother will want to talk to you,” he says. “I didn’t want to say too much about this, but a son changes things.”
I push my food around on my plate, not sure of what I should say. "Your mother is very focused on power dynamics,” I tell him, trying to be diplomatic.
He reaches across the table, takes my hand. "But you don't have to play her games, Sera. You don't have to?—"
"What if I want to?"
That stops him.
"What?"
"What if I want to figure out how to survive in this world? Not just survive—thrive. Be more than just your wife. More than just the mother of your child." I take a breath. "What if I want to build something? Be someone?"
He studies me for a long moment.
"Then I'll help you," he says finally. "Whatever you want to build. Whoever you want to be. I'll help you."
"Why?"
"Because you're my wife. Because you're carrying my son. Because—" He stops. "Because I want you to be happy. And if figuring out your place in this world makes you happy, then I want that for you."
I squeeze his hand.
"Okay."
"Okay."
We finish lunch in comfortable silence. And when we get back to the mansion, Adrian kisses me at the door and tells me he has to go to a meeting, but he'll be home for dinner.
I believe him.
I go upstairs to change, already thinking about myworkshop. About the projects I want to start. About the business I could build.
And when the summons from Bianca comes the next morning, I'm ready.
